Too Much Good?

I recently had a great week! Our family got a little kitty. We named him Hemanafter an 80’s cartoon I grew up with. And Heman is awesome! He plays well, and he isgood with our kids. Not only that but he sits on my tummy and purrs. Ahh, good stuff.Beyond the cat I was mowing the lawn, and then out of nowhere my wife offers to finishmowing the lawn for me. Talk about awesome. And the weather was good, and I wasthinking about all the good things God has given me. I could go on.

I hope you’re having one of those good weeks, or had one recently.

But do you think it’s possible to have too much good? At Amazing Love we’vebeen talking about the Lord’s Prayer and the petition that says, lead us not intotemptation. And here’s what I believe, if we’re not tempted with something inherentlyevil, we can be subtly tempted by too much good.

And think of all the good things summer brings. Boats and beaches, Sox andCubs games, Bears training camp, pools and water parks, Taste of Chicago andRibfest, Lollapalooza and Taylor Swift! Come on! And I absolutely love having a greattime!

But if we have all good times, and no times with God - it’s an attack. If we haveall good things, but no consideration of God things - we’re at war. These are the subtletemptations we face.

And this problem of too much good isn’t just true of this age. Before we came tobe a man under the inspiration of God penned this proverb, “Give me neither povertynor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much anddisown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and sodishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9). On the side of too much good is thatwe lose our sight of God.

And it isn’t that cats or concerts are bad. It’s just that if God’s provision isblocking our vision of the truest treasure it’s an attack, it’s no good. For the best thisworld has to offer, the truest treasure, is Jesus. He is the one who this day is callingyou to his side so he can convince you of his love and his forgiveness. He is the onewhose goodness outlasts any summer vacation or 3-day weekend or kitty namedHeman.

Are there any good things getting in the way of the things of God? Are there anygood times crowding out your time with God? I invite you to repent. Confess this sinbefore the Lord and seek out a Godly balance. Don’t allow the good things to make youmiss out on the best thing. And then know there is forgiveness from our Savior Jesus,and open arms as he awaits you to seek him. God bless!